Trek Introduces the 2013 Radioshack Leopard Team Bikes.

Familiar faces will be back on the team, like Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, Adreas Kloden, Jens Voigt, Chris Horner, Ben King, and many more lads, which should make for a strong team this season.

For the Springs Classics, the Domane features Trek’s IsoSpeed decoupler, which should help to smooth out the cobbles.  The chosen weapon of Fabian Cancellara.

Utilizing Kammtail virtual foil tube shaping, the Madone 7.9 will provide the riders of RadioShack Leopard Trek with smooth speed in a lightweight package.

When the clock begins to tick, the team will roll out of the start house on the new Trek Speed Concept 9.9.  Integrated brakes and cockpit will make it one of the fastest bikes for the team when every tenth of a second counts.

The team will have access to the full range of Bontrager Aeolus D3 wheels, in 3, 5, 7, and 9mm depths, as well as Bontrager’s saddle line, the Team Issue, Paradigm XXX, and RXL InForm. RadioShack Leopard Trek rides Shimano’s Dura Ace 9070 Di2 electronic drivetrain, Schwalbe Ultremo HT tubular tires, and Speedplay Zero Pedals, along with SRM power meters.

Videos, photos and data courtesy of RadioShack Leopard Trek 

Score One For The Ladies - Brand New Wiggle Honda Women's Pro Cycling Team Launch.

Video courtesy Global Cycling Network

A Bunch Of Dopers Got Together, And A Bicycle Race Broke Out.

With the racing season of 2013 upon us, and the whole “Lance-Affair” on the minds of cycling’s “Powers-That-Be,” the “Media” and rabid fans alike, it was high-time to put the whole racing thing into perspective: For fun and ultimate futility, of course.

The words of cynic, you think?  Nah, I am a 100% realist.  Observe the following.

 

If anyone has paid even a minor bit of attention to cycling for any period of time, you would have witnessed people looking for an unfair advantage (yeah, I know, what a shocker, right?).  And, not to burst anyone’s bubble, it was not just in the “Armstrong Era,” either.  It has always been there.  It has been pretty humorous observing people actually surprised that their “Hero’s” could be anything other than the great cycling deities the public has made them out to be.   

Well, since the advent of the term “Better Living Through Chemistry,” the Holy-Grailesque unfair advantage in cycling was simply ratcheted up many, many notches.  And it did not magically go away, nor will it, with a wave of the United StatesAnti-Doping Agency (oxymoron) USADA wand. 

So, to the 2013 racing season I say: Enjoy the Circus.  ‘Cause, “Clean” cycling is like Unicorns – Two things some people believe in which are not real.

Tested: Park Tools PMP-3 Micro-Pump

                                               Image courtesy Park Tools

It is an unfortunate fact of life – If you ride bicycle, you will get a flat, eventually. Just as much as air escapes a tube (or a tubeless tire), it must be put back in somehow if you want to continue a rollin’.  From here you basically have two choices – Either an air pump or a CO2 inflator. 

I have used both methods with great success, however, no matter how hard you try, CO2 inflators are a 50/50 prospect – Sometimes you get all of the gas in, and sometimes you don’t.  Plus, you usually get the pleasure of a few frozen finger tips to add to the aggravation of the flat.  However, with an air pump, all the air goes in with nothing more than some sweat from the physical act of operating the pump.

My weapon of choice lately has been the Park Tools PMP-3 pump.  This super small micro-pump fits in just about any bag or jersey pocket, or mounts directly to the frame, making it ideal to take along when space and weight are an issue. It has an aluminum barrel with a locking dual Presta/Schrader head, plus a soft-touch, dual-density, flip out handle.
Highlights are:

• Presta and Schrader valve compatible
• Max. pressure: 100 psi / 7 bars
• 7.825 inches long (200mm)
• Weight: 3.60 ounces (100 grams)
• Retail: $17.95 USD

                          Schrader configuration.  Image Courtesy Park Tools

                            Presta configuration.  Image courtesy Park Tools

I have been using the PMP-3 for about six months now, and it has saved me everytime.  It is light, reliable, and other than making me work to get 100 psi in the tires, I have had no issues with it.

Park Tools offers a one-year warranty on all air pumps.

It's That Time Again - The San Dimas Stage Race 2013.

Get ready, and mark your calendars.  The 2013 San Dimas Stage Race is back, and it will be held on March 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, in beautiful San Dimas, California.

Organized by SC Velo, this three day race encompasses a road race, criterium, and uphill time trial on the famous Glendora Mountain Road.  All levels of skill will be competing, and the racing is sure to be awesome.

Don't miss it.

Let’s Ban Automobiles. Well, Why Not?

Let me begin this article putting forth I have been roaming this Earth for the better part of forty years, and I have never had a gun pointed at me.  Not once.  Ever!  On the other hand, I have been threatened by a motor vehicle almost everyday of my life, yet I do not hear cries for banning these obviously dangerous devices of mass destruction.  Why is that?

Some people hate guns, I get that.  There are also people whom hate all-things internal combustion, however, they are just not as vocal as the Anti-Second Amendment People (ASAP’s).  It seems there are more people that hate guns then those whom hate cars, we just don’t hear about the latter because there are less of them voicing their unasked for opinions.  It is similar to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), in the sense there are also Drunks Against Mad Mothers (DAMM), but since there are less of them as well, we do not hear their opinions, either.

At the heart of the matter is this: Just because you personally hate something does not give you license to ban it.  That is your opinion, and guess what?  Other people have opinions, too.  They just don’t go about their daily lives hitting other people over the head with their opinions.  Therefore, and just for fun, since hats are flying into the ring of Public Opinion from every direction, I figured I would throw mine in, too.  I mean, seriously, why can we not ban motor vehicles?  Check the facts – They are big, loud, dangerous in the hands of the stupid (and unlicensed), they pollute, don’t signal their intentions, they don’t honor our right-of-way, they harass us, run us over, and firmly believe they own the whole darn road.  Hey, what’s not to hate?    

So, while the premise of this article may sound silly, the standards of judgment and opinions put forth on the national stage about violence, especially gun violence, should also apply to all dangerous, deadly things.  See, looking at it this way, the argument I put forth makes perfect sense.  It all comes down the device being utilized, and to me, motor vehicles are a deadly threat everytime I get on my bicycle.  See, motor vehicle drivers could care less about cyclists (and pedestrians, too), and they will run us over and just keep on going.  And looking at accident statistics, they do.

Be careful and vigilant while you are out there on your bike, and remember this quote by Mel Brooks from the movie Blazing Saddles: “You watch your ass!”

Lance & Oprah – Armstrong “Admits” To Doing What Everyone Else Has Being Doing, And Some People Were Shocked! Can The Earth Return To Spinning, Now?

                                                    Photo Courtesy AP

Well, now that the other proverbial shoe has finally dropped, the seas will cease to rise, disease and famine will be no more, and the polar bears can now begin their playful rejoice – Cycling will be absolutely, squeaky clean now! 

Not!  It never was, and for all of you touchy-feely types out there, IT NEVER WILL BE!  Get over yourselves!  The whole affair of “Did he, or Didn’t he,” was like the old question of who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb – Completely pointless, yet some people still claim to have the answer. 

See, Lance was actually the Best of The Best, on or off the juice.  Taking him down will no more “Fix” cycling than putting a catalytic converter on your lawnmower will save the planet.  Sure, it will make some of the population feel good about themselves, but it amounts to nothing more than a waste of time, money and effort.

Unless you are Travis Tygart.  Queue the Hallelujah music!

If taking down the so-called leader of the dopers by engaging in deals with other dopers is going to magically clean up the peleton, well, dream on. 

It is an unfortunate aspect of human nature to look for an advantage, fair or otherwise.  See, as long we have humans walking the earth, we will have cheaters.  This is not rocket science, people. 

Look back at your youth, your school years, your career ladder, and yes, even in your own families – There has always been those whom have screwed you to get an unfair advantage.  And, unfortunately, a lot of you yourselves have screwed someone else to get where you are and to get what you want.

The best way to combat cheating in sports is to go out and be an honest person yourself, in all aspects of your life.  With a world of honest people, there will no longer be a need for doping/cheating.

So, to those whom feel like they have been mislead and cheated, somehow, well, grow up!  Lance does not owe any of us anything.  If he was the only guilty party, I would be in complete agreement with the Lance Haters.  However, since Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED’s) run the sport, I will save my hooray’s for the time when all of the cheaters are rooted out.

By simply observing human nature - I am not going to hold my breath.